The Battle of Ft. Davidson

Last weekend (9/22 - 9/23) saw the reenactment of the battle of Ft. Davidson at Pilot Knob, eighty six miles south of St. Louis.

On September 25th, 1864 Sterling Price attacked Ft. Davidson with an army of 12,000 men.   He hoped to capture the lightly defended fort with its arms and amuniton, including 16 cannons.   Price expected the battle to be short.  He was wrong.  The 1,450 Union Soldiers under the command of Thomas Ewing Jr, the brother-in-law of William Tecumsech Sherman held Ft. Davidson until 3 AM, September 27th, when they escaped under the cover of darkness.  Before leaving they had spiked their cannons and lit a slow fuse in the powder magazine.  An hour later a tremendous explosion destroyed the remaining arms and ammunition.   Price lost between 1,000 and 1,500 men and gained nothing.

Sterling Price.  There is more information about Price in my article on Pea Ridge.

Thomas Ewing

Grandson Brad and Stepson Scott near the remnants of Ft. Davidson.  An unknown number of soldiers are buried in a gun pit extending from this stone.

Recruiting poster for First Missouri light artillery.

Outside the earthen walls of the Fort.  There is not a lot left of Ft.  Davidson.  One outstanding feature is a hole in the ground where the powder magazine once stood.

There were about 400 reenactors camped out at the fort.

The rebels advance

Union artillery in action.

Union calvary